The Eyes of the Wolf

Rose's plan of introducing her family gradually to the idea of Scorpius spending Christmas at their house didn't quite succeed. James had apparently sent an owl home, and within a day, Rose received a letter from her parents.

Rose agonised hours over her reply, and it didn't help that Titania suggested simply sending one line, "Yes, it's true. I'm sure you'll love him." Finally, Rose composed a two-page drivel with lots of exclamation marks and over-the-top praise about Scorpius. Despite her noble ideas, she couldn't help adding a post script, "PS. He's not at all like his Dad! Really!"

The next morning, Rose tied the letter to Apollo's foot with trembling hands. Apollo clicked his beak and flew off, and the minute he was gone, Rose wanted the letter back. But the worst part was that her parents didn't reply the next day. Or the day after that, or the day after that. Rose was in a right state, unable to concentrate on her studies or listen to what Titania was saying. Aunt Luna was planning a Fairy Christmas, and at any other time Rose would have listened with awe, but now she had no patience. In her agony, she even went to talk to Albus at Sunday morning's breakfast. Albus shrugged and said there hadn't been anything but the usual family stuff in his Mum's latest letter, and James, who arrived with his broom shortly afterwards, confirmed it.

'Don't think it's going to happen, Rosie. They're wearing you out with stony silence.'

'I can't believe it!' Rose sank on the bench. 'Even Uncle Harry?'

'Oh, but Soppy wouldn't be staying at our house, would he? What Dad thinks has no consequence.'

'Don't call him that! And I do happen to think Uncle Harry has a lot of say.'

'Maybe he doesn't want that say,' Albus said and swallowed a whole gingerbread biscuit. 'Don't forget, Dad and Soppy's father were enemies at school.'

'Stop calling him Soppy!' Rose stood up and stormed out of the hall. She returned to her room and sat on her bed, unable to keep the tears from flowing. How could Mum and Dad do this to her? Had they no idea that she had finally found someone who was just like her? Someone who understood.

And she realised that no, they probably didn't. She had never talked to her parents about being lonely at school, and they always seemed to suppose she spent a lot of time with her cousins. Which she really didn't; all Potter kids were Quidditch whizzes and of the talkative, popular sort, which she was not. Well, Albus was a bit less talkative than the others, but he was always hanging out with James, who was the most popular boy in the school. Still, they all treated her like a sister, so her parents most likely didn't even have a reason to suspect anything.

'Rose?' Someone knocked on the door, and Rose wiped her eyes quickly in the bedspread.

'Yeah?'

Titania came in and sat on Rose's bed. She dug out a small paper bag and offered it to Rose.

'What is it?' Rose peeked into the bag. It was full of small, black balls.

'Fizzy Liquorice. Mum says it helps in agitation.'

'Right.' Rose picked a ball and popped it in her mouth. It was very mild and hard, but when she bit it, it burst open and immensely sour powder erupted in her mouth.

'Uhh!' Her eyes were starting to water. 'This is...strong...'

'Helps, doesn't it?' Titania said and ate one.

Rose coughed violently and wiped her eyes, but water was flowing out like tears, and her ears were humming. She closed her eyes and chewed vigorously, trying to swallow, but the ball was stretchy and kept erupting with fresh, sour powder. It took her several minutes to finally get through the mouthful.

'How's that supposed to help in agitation?' Rose coughed and drank a whole glassful of water. 'Does it have some healing ingredients or what?'

'Oh no, it's just really strong liquorice. Takes your mind off your worries for a moment.'

Despite her mouth being on fire and her mind still heavy, Rose laughed.

'That sounds just about Aunt Luna!'

'Listen,' Titania said and put the bag away. 'I think you should write to your parents and tell them everything. How can they know how you feel if you don't tell them?'

'I suppose so. I just feel like I'm in the middle of "Romeo and Juliet".'

'What's that?' Titania asked interestedly, but a tapping sound interrupted her. Apollo was hooting outside the window, a roll of parchment tied to his leg.

'Apollo!' Rose rushed to the window and opened it to let the owl in. Titania poured some water into Rose's glass for him, while Rose untied the letter, her hands shaking so violently that she nearly knocked over the bird.

'Do you want to read it alone?' Titania asked. 'I can go -'

'No, no.' Rose tore off the seal. 'Stay.'

The paper was full of text, and for a while, the room spun in Rose's eyes.

Rose's legs gave in, and she sank on the bed.

'He can come! Mum didn't even sound angry! Read it!' Rose whisked the letter to Titania and lay back on her bed. She lifted her feet up blissfully, and soon she was laughing and crying simultaneously. 'He can come!'

'Very nice.' Titania nodded. 'I wonder what that surprise is?'

'Oh, it's probably one of Grandpa Arthur's inventions again,' Rose said, hiccoughing violently. 'Last year -hic- he rebuilt this old Muggle car -hic- and Dad and Uncle Harry were really -hic- excited, because he had had one just like -hic- it when they were kids.'

'Well, you should go and tell Scorpius. I think I saw him going to the library.'

'Oh, -hic- yes.' Rose stood up and picked up a hairbrush to tame some of her wild curls. Her face was red and blotchy, but she put on some of the powder Aunt Ginny had given her. Titania lent her a pot of mint lip gloss and forced another glass of water down her throat to stop the hiccough.

'Miss Weasley, will you watch it!' Little Professor Binns staggered as Rose brushed past him, but Rose was too busy to stop. She arrived at the library door out of breath and tiptoed past the shelves, looking for that mop of dirty blond hair...

'Scorpius,' Rose whispered. Scorpius raised his head, but he didn't smile. Rose hesitated for a second, but she had already come this far. She walked to his table and pulled out a chair.

'Hi.'

'Hi.'

'I got a letter from Mum.'

'I see.'

'Don't you want to know what was in it?'

'More domestic happiness?'

'I - no.' Rose was taken aback by the coolness of Scorpius's voice. Her happiness drained away like water from a goose's back and suddenly, it dawned on her. How silly of her. Of course Scorpius had said he'd love to come over for Christmas just to annoy James. Why else would he be glaring at her and looking like he wished her gone?

'Well, you seem to be busy, so I'll go.' Rose suppressed a sob quite unsuccessfully.

'No, wait!' Scorpius rose up so that the table screeched noisily against the stone floor. 'No, of course I want to hear it. Come back. Please don't cry!'

'I wouldn't want to burden you with my domestic happiness.'

Scorpius veered around the table and came over. His eyes didn't look cold any more; they were earnest.

'I'm sorry, please don't cry. It's just...I got a letter from Grandpa the other day. He told me he's arranged me to spend a month next summer at the Mulcibers. He didn't even ask if I wanted to go, just said it'd be useful for me and that I'd learn to know the right sort of people there. I wrote to father and told him I don't want to go, but he replied this morning and said that I must go because they're old family friends and maybe they'll manage to toughen me up a bit. So I've been a bit edgy today. Sorry.'

'That's awful,' Rose said. 'Are they not nice people?'

'I hardly know them. They have a boy my age, but he's at Durmstrang.'

'Well, maybe you two will really hit it off,' Rose said encouragingly.

'Maybe something will come up, and you won't be able to go,' she said quickly and moved closer to the table, pretending to look at Scorpius's book.

'Yeah, maybe I'll break a leg,' Scorpius said with a weak grin. 'So, what was in your Mum's letter?'

'Oh, she said you can come! And she wasn't angry at all!'

'Ace.' Scorpius returned to the table. 'But that's only half of the problem solved. After my father's letter, I think there's a chance Africa will freeze over before he lets me come over to your house.'

Rose chewed her minty bottom lip for a while, her mind working frantically.

'Do you have any friends who'd cover up for you?'

'Nope. I don't think anybody's willing to do that sort of favour for me.'

Rose put her hands on the table and leaned over to look Scorpius in the eyes.

'Then do you have any people who owe you?'

Scorpius's mouth curved in amusement.

'Cunning. Yes, I think I have quite a few people whose homework I've done multiple times over the years.'

'Then do it,' Rose said. 'All's fair in...er, breaking down old prejudices. Right?'

Scorpius smiled.

'Right.'